Line casting machine



April 9, 1935. s. E. sPERRY LINE CASTING MACHINE Filed NOV. 14, 1953INVENTOR Syw/ 4 5/V562? BY- WW ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 9, 1935 rom.

MNE ori'sfrINc MAoHiN I i tion of New York 'gL.Applirisation,l\l,overnloer 14, 1,573.33, Serial Bld-697,979

' solitons; (01.199450)V Thepresentinvention relates to improvements inline casting .machinesand more particularly t0 those ,of :the classdisclosedfgenerally in U. .'S. latent No. e3o`-i532A granted,ISeptemberv 16, 1890,

wherein matriceskbearing type forming `characters. are .assembled inlines .and the .lines-lowered Joya transporter to atpositiongin .frontlofl a .mold nwhich :type barisuorislugs are. cast againstthe Vmatrixlines, the .matrix lines being heldin cast- .ing` position in ,front ofAthe. .moldfby'` vise, "the :laWSioi Wlich'clamn .the lines endwise. 1 j;Machines oi thisclassarenow provided with .agnovablegvise :law:forq'uadding outshort matrix linesgor :lines composed vto :less than.full .length il .forwhich the machine is set; the. movable jaw beingretained in normal or open position .to receive` the., composed line by.aisuitable retaining latch, :it being-.intended thatthelatchbe releasedafter the matrix line'hasbeen lowered'substane- .vtially ,fully4between' the. vise jaws, whereupon a closing device. ,.moves; the ,jawYinwardly against theylineto hold it;for;asting..; i r i However .theline transporteryor. so-called first elevator which isordinarilygemployed .in .ma-

chines of this classfor lowering :composedmatrix lines between the vise.jaws, must vdescend 'to- Avarying extents in order .toalinematriceshaving 4typeforming characters at different .heights or,levels thereon, properly infront of the slug .castinglmold, the.mahines being gprovided'sfor Vthis `purpose with an -alining bar whichcarries suitable'positioning Vpieces `forfstopping `the iirst ele- Vatoratthe gdiierent requiredheights.'.u`

- The primaryobject1 ofgthe. present .invention f 4iste provide .means-for releasing the movable vise Vjaw retaining latch :atthe propertimezcorre spending to Athe :particular` level to which the firstelevatormustdescend Heretoiore lit has been necessary toyset lthe jawvretaining latch sothat .40 it was released whenjtheY first elevator.carne to rest, at its `high alinexnent position, so. that if-'the-elevatorvwas .set rtov -stop at thenormal or .a V low-.- .er alinementlevel, `theY j aW 'would :be released while the. elevator V,wastravellingga,considerable distance,downwardlybeore -corningtoresa andsuch excessive down-wardmovement` of, the V elef vatorlwhile thejawywaso-fclosing against theline causedjrubbing ofv the matrices atAtheends of the .line-against .the,jawamesultingfintilting .the A10W 5oiwardthexmold so thatgwhentheimoldfadvanced to lockgupagainstthermatrixlinewwitn-the lower `lugsof'therme.tricesoutofalmementrthematrices fwereidamased.. .Represent-invention overcomes`:thisdifficulty by pronerlycoordinatins thefoper- ACII erportionof-thematrix line .upwardly and to` l! whichis ating relationship betweenfthe`line transporter vand the jaw retaining latch whereby release of `themovable vise jaw is not effected until after thematrix line has beenlowered .by Athe elevator .sufficiently far to insure vproper alinementof Athe Vnia-tris;.line ,with the mold, irrespective Yof thealinement"level at which the elevator comes to rest.`

. To these andother .ends Vthe invention consists in `certainimprovements vand combinations `4and arrangements oi parts -all Vas willbe `hereinafter .describedzthe features of l,novelty beingtpointedoutmore-.particularly intheclaims at the end of this specification.

` yIn :the accompanying drawing:

.,.lFigurei-l is aA frontelevation, partly in section,

cfa portion'of aline casting .machine showing the preierredembodiment'ofythe invention applied thereto; ,Y Y v Figure 2 'is atop plan oflaportionof the strucftnreyshown in Figure 1;',

o Figures 3 `and .4 are transverse vertical sections on an enlargedscale.ithroughthernoldand .por-

v:tions of the rst elevator and adjacent parts,

showing the iirst elevator respectivelyrin positions'to alinarnatrixlines at -differentfleve'ls in relation `to vthe mold;

fligurev isa side .elevation of the structure shownin Figure l, onl areduced scale, and show- .ingthe vise jawelosing means; and..

1 Figures -.6 and .5' are detail views, onlan fen.- larged scale,showing'the.jawretaining latch set .for release by the firstelevatorwhile lowering t Similar pa-rtsaredesignated by the same refer-Vence charactersinthe several gures. i. iin .the :embodiment oftheinvention vshown in to `different levels between the Avisetheaccompanyingdrawing, l --andfZ represent the usual' risht-hand :andLleft-.hand.rise' jaws. as

commonly. usedgin lmachines of this class, .these jaws being slide-blein ,suitable guides vin the, cap il ,of the usualrisegframe, so thatthey may move toward.,andv vfrom one another. .The rlt-xftghand jay/.2maybeprovided 4witlfrthe usual orany suitable setting andplamping means,such for exam,-

-ple,.;as;tnat ,disclosed in U. sratentino. 1,11083758 rcrantedoeueust.25, 19l4,.1t.he adjusting. knob 12a andadjnsting rod 2b'of which -are,shown,.and 4the right-hand jaw l Vis provided with the .usual stopsupported on the cap .3 and serves to set 'this jawlin its normal openor ,matrix or pos-,it 0.

.1ir1e.-rec.ei 'ns position. Theiawlfwhieh is mail: ableinwardlyfframfits stoof-4 and-towardtlae iaw r,2, has a reciprocatoryybar 5 fastened thereto, vand fifi loI

this bar is connected to a jaw closing mechanism which operates to movethe jaw I inwardly or toward the jaw 2 to lclose against a matrix lineafter the latter has been presented between the vise jaws and to movethe jaw I outwardly against its stop after a cast has been made. The jawclosing mechanism shown in the present instance is similar to that shownand described in my prior application, Serial No. 612,349, filed May 19,1932, it comprising an arm 6 which is pivotallj7 connected to the bar 5by a link 1, this arm being pivoted at 8 on a stationary part 9 of themachine frame, the arm 6 being connected to an arm I0 which isoperatively connected by a spring II to a lever I2, the latter beingpivoted at I3 on a stationary part of the machine frame and having aforked rear end which straddles the usual cam shaft I5 on the machine,the arms of the fork of the lever I2 being provided with cam pieces i6and I1 which are successively engageable by a roller or projection I8 onthe cam shaft and operative respectively to close and open the jaw I atappropriate times in the cycle of operation of the machine, Vthe jaw Ibeing closed against the line yieldably through the action of the springII. The lines of matrices M which may be composed in the machinein theusual and well known manner, are received by the jaws I9 of a linetransporter which may be the usual so-calledvilrst elevator as employedin machines of this class, the matrices in each line being supported inthis elevator by the usual lugs or ears which project forwardly andrearwardly. from their upper corners and hang from rails on the jaws ofthe elevator in the usual and well known manner. '.Ihe line transportedor first elevator lowers' the matrix lines between the :vise jaws andinto a position in front of a mold 20 which may be of the form commonlyemployed in machines of this class, having a slot or cavity in which atype bar or slug is cast against the 'character bearing edges of thematrices presented thereto, by metal injected into the mold from themetal pot in the usual and well known Way.

` The matrices, as usual in machines of this class, may have upper andlower type forming characters or cavities m located at different heightsor levels thereon, as shown in Figure 4, or head letter characterslocated thereon at the level of the lower character of such two-lettermatrices, or the matrices may have relatively large or advertisingdisplay characters m formed thereon at another orrlowermost level, asshown in Figure 3, the molds used conforming withvthe kinds of matricesfrom which the casts are to be made and the line transporter or rstelevator being stopped in its descent so that it will present the matrixlines at 'the proper alining levels with respect to the mold. The meansshown in the present instance for stopping the descent of the rstelevator at one or another level corresponding to the alining level atwhich the matrix lines should be positioned in front of the moldcornprises an alining bar 2I which is sldable longitudinally in the topof the vise cap 3, this bar carrying pins 22 and 23 which projectupwardly therefrom to different heights, and one or the other of thesepins or the top ofthe bar 2`I is engageable by an adjustable stop screw24 which is fitted in the head 25 of the first elevator to stop thedescent of the latter at the required height for alining differentheight characters on the matrices in front of Ythe t'ype bar or slugcasting mold, the engagement of thev screw 24 diready with the upperside of the aiming bar :I serving to aline the upper characters on thematrices with the mold slot as shown in Figure 4, the engagement of thescrew 24 with the pin 23 serving to aline large or advertising displaycharacters with the mold slot as shown in Figure 3, and the engagementof the screw 24 with the pin 22 serving to aline the lower of thetwo-letter characters or head letter characters on the matrices with themold slot, the level to which the first elevator and, in consequence,the matrix line is lowered in front of the mold being controlled byshifting the alining bar 2I longitudinally to bring one or the otherofthe pins 22 and 23 or the top surface of the bar 2l into positionbeneath the screw 24 on the first elevator.

In order to retain the vise jaw I against movement inwardly or againstthe matrix line until the line is lowered between the vise jaws, a latch25 is provided, this latch in the present instance being pivoted at21'to a bracket 28 which is xed to the top of the vise cap and may serveto support the stop screw 4 'for the jaw I. The latch 26 has adownwardly projecting portion 26 which is engageable in a notch 5 in thebar 5, the latch 26 normally resting by gravity with its downwardlyextending portionZIiil engaged inthe notch 5a in the bar 5 and thereby'retaining the jaw I connected to the bar 5 in its normal open or matrixline receiving position against the stop 4, and an upward swing of thevlatch about its pivot 21 serving lto disengage the portion 2li'r1 fromthe notch 5a and thereby releasing the jaw I for inward movement againstthe matrix line.

According to the present invention, a latch releasing member or pawl 29is pivoted at 30 to the latch 26 and has a toe 3I which projects intothe path of one of the jaws I9 of the first elevator so that it will bedepressed as the first elevator descends toA present a matrix linebetween the vise jaws and in front v.of the mold. A block 32 is fixed onthe alining bar 2I by a screw 33 which preferably engages in anelongated slot 34 which enables the block 32 to be adjustedlongitudinally of the alining bar 2l, and the block 32 is preferablyprovided with an indicator mark 35 and the top of the vise cap 3Y isprovided with cooperating indicating marks with which the indicator mark35 may register to indicate the different settings for the alining bar2|, the indicator marks shown in the present instance on the vise capbeing Normal, H. L. and High and designating and corresponding with thesetting ofthe alining bar 2| to arrest the descent of the rst elevatorrespectively at the normal alinement level at which the stop screw 24Vonthe first elevator directly engages the top of the alining bar, theintermediate orv head letter alinement level at which the screw 24engages the lower alining pin 22, andthe high alinement level at whichthe stop screw 24 engages the higher alining pin 23 and thereby arreststhe descent of the first elevator at the highest level as shown inFigures 1 and 3. The block 32 has a pivot or fulcrum pin 36 projectingtherefrom and into a slot 31 formed in the releasing member or pawl 29,this pin being shiftable longitudinally in said slot when the aliningbar 2I is shifted longitudinally `to set it in one or another of thepositions described to control the extent of descent of the firstelevator, the slot 31 being so shaped that the vpivot or fulcrum pin 36will position the toe 3I on the releasing member 39 at such a height asto cause it to beengaged and actuated to release the latch when theelevator is within the'vsame l 'l'evel,H the pivot onfulcrum lscrew 35will restiat "l co ofits iinal'stopping point.

ieetnssa distance .of ,its final i"stopping" point, whether the`alining: barl is set f or thehighestorlowest alineirnent levels ser forthe intermediate .alinement level. For example, Figures 6 4and 7showpthe .pivotxor fnloru-m pin 35 respectively atthe,-."oppo :siteendsvof the slot''l'corraipcnding to :the `set-- tingacf the aliningl bar 2l.for normaler lowest :andthe Vhighest' alining positions respectively,and lit @will vbereen from these v'figures .thatv the 'nrstelevatorwillstrike and: depress ,the toe 3 l aofthe@ releasing ,member25,: in each instance, when' .theiiirst Y'-ilevator yiswithin` the samedistance When the alining bar'i isfset in an.intermediatefposition forthe stopping ofy the yidrst elevatcruat the intermediateaninterinediate. pointin thelength-oifthe slot 3l, and the'toc 3l of thereleasing member will then be set; at :jsuch'a height that it will beengaged and, depressed by the iirst... elevator when V4the latterY is v/ithin the samedistance Vof its final intermediate stoppingpoint asindicated by the distanceXin Figures 6: and '7. Since the pivot lorfulcrum vpini is supported bylthe alining bar ata point betweenthe-toeV3i or the releasing member .2S and the pivotil which connects said tothe' latch 2t, `depression of thetoe Si `byfthe descending firstelevator willrock the portionita of the latchjnpwardly out of Vthe notchlinthe bar` 5., thereby releasing this bar and the movablejawi connectedthereto so that the latter mayclose against the matrix line,V and since`the pint. is carried bythe alining bar .2! so, that it is shiitable'therewiththe settingof the `releasing member 29 for the release of thejaw Al is controlled by or coordinated with the setting of the aliningbar tov determine .the level to which theilrst .elevator` lowers thematrix lines be-` tween the vise jaws. 1' f n In operation, sliding ofthe alining bar" 2l' to bringthe indicator mark 35 into registerwiththermarlrzon the fvise Vjaw corresponding .to the Adesired setting ofthealining bar positions the alining bar to stop the descent ofthe firstelevator at-the desiredlevel andalso `shifts the pin 35 in the slot 3lof, the latch releasing memberl@ andv thereby automatically rocksvthemember 29 to raise orlower its toe Si, according to the direction inwhich the alining Vbar `is moved, Figure 6 showing the"releasingmemberall in its highest position corresponding to'y the position of the partsin "Figtlrej, l whercinthe high alinement pin 23 stands beneath the stopscrew 2t conforming with the vsetting fof the indicator mark .35 inregister with the High indicatorv mark onl thev will be engageabledirectly 'with the top, of the alining bar, the pin 3d being thenshiftedto the. lefthand end of the slot Stein the latch releasing member 2g andthe latter then occupying itsr lowest position. Setting ofthe aliningbar, 2| in an intermediate position so that the Yindicator mark 55thereon registers with the I-I. L. indicator mark on'th'e vise cap willbring the alining pin 22 into position Ybeneath the screw 24 to stop thedescent of the first elevator at an intermediatelevel and this settingofthe'alining bar 2i will concurrently set. the pin 36. at a pointintermediately of the length lof the slot 3l in the latch releasing.member. 29' "and will thereby set this member-with its toet! at an.intermediate height. Thus, for eachsetting ofthe alining bar2l;todeterminefthe-level to which the first elevator descends to present`the matrix-line'zbeitween theY visejaws, thetoe. 3iV ofl thelatchrevleasingmember 29 -will be' positioned atv such ya -heightthatit'will always be struck by the first ,elevatcrwhen the latteris'thesame distance abcvepits. aliningstop; so that the jaw retaininglatch Etiwi'll always be tripped to releasectheV jaw "l forinward"movementzunder the action of the closing mechanism when thematrixV line has `been brought down between; therjaws to the lowestpeint possible/for any given alinement and hence premature releasing of.the vise jaw and consequent interference with the proper presentation.of the matrix lines between the vise vjaws and in front of the mold isavoided. l

following eachvcast, will causepthc jaw l to beV retained in its normalopen or matrixline receivingposition by the latching of the portionZalof the latch 25 over the end of the bar 5 and `the're-engagement of theportion 25e of the latch `in the notch 5a of the bar .5, the latch andits releasing member being thus reset ready for the release andclosingof the jaw l against the next `line'introduced between the visejaws.

v 1 claim asmy inventiomf- 1.,In a linecastingmachine having 'a matrix.line receiving vise embodying jaws at least one of'which is movablefrom matrix line receivingA position `'toward the otherV jaw to closeagainst matrix'lines,` a matrix line transporter and means cooperativewith said transporter' to cause it to presentV matrix lines between thevisejaws at rela- '.tively v'diifere'nt''aiinement levels, means :forre- Y tainingr the movable jawin line receiving ,position andcontrol`means therefor independent of the transporterand adjustable to causesaid movable jaw torbe released automatically whenfthe trans,-

.porter' reaches one or another alinement level',

2. In a line casting machine having a matrix line receiving viseembodying jaws, one of which is movable from a normal `matrix linereceiving position toward the other jaw tol close against matrix lines,and a matrix line transporter, alinving means Vcooperative with thetransporter and capable of beingvset to cause the transporter to presentmatrixilines at relatively different alinement levels" between thejaWsretaining means for holding the movable jaw in normal position, areleasing Amember for the retaining means capable of being .set torelease the retaining means to conform with the presentation of thematrix linesat different levels between the jaws, and anintercontrolling connection between said alining means and latchreleasing member.

3. In a line casting machine having a vise embodying jaws one of whichis movable from matrix line receiving position vtoward the other jaw toV-close against matrix lines, a matrix line transporter, and aliningmeans capable of being set Y to cause said transporter to present matrixlines between the vise jaws at different levels, means for retainingsaid movable jaw in matrix line receiving position, and means governedaccording to the setting of said alining means and controlled by thematrix line transporter for releasing said jaw retaining means.

4. In a line casting machine having a matrix line receiving viseembodying jaws one of which is movable from matrix line receivingposition toward the other jaw to close against matrix lines, and amatrix line transporter and cooperative setting means for presentingmatrix lines between the vise jaws at diierent alnement levels,releasable retaining means for holding the movable jaw in matrix linereceiving position, and means con,- nected to said setting means to becontrolled by the setting thereof and actuated by the matrix linetransporter to release said jaw retaining means in accordance with thealnement level at which the transporter presents the matrix linesbetween the vise jaws.

5. In a.y line casting machine having a matrix line receiving viseembodying jaws one of which is movable from matrix line receivingposition toward the other jaw, means connected to said movable jaw andoperative to close it against matrix lines, and aline transporter andcooperative setting means for presenting matrix lines between the visejaws at relatively different alinement levels, retaining means forholding the movable jaw in matrix line receiving position, and areleasing Ymember for said retaining means set in one or anotherposition in accordance with the setting of said setting means foractuation by the transporter to release the jaw retaining means when thetransporter reaches a position corresponding to the setting of saidsetting means.

6. In a line casting machine having a matrix line receiving viseembodying jaws one of which is movable from matrix line receivingposition toward the other jaw to close against matrix lines, a linetransporter for introducing matrix lines between the jaws, and analining bar capable of being set in different positions and operative tostop the transporter in different positions to present matrix linesbetween the jaws at different alinement levels, retaining means forholding the movable jaw in line receiving position, a releasing memberfor saidretaining means engageable by the transporter for actuationthereby, and a controlling member for the releasing member connected tothe alining bar to be set thereby and operative to position saidreleasing member for actuation by the transporter whe'n the latterapproaches the matrix line presenting position determined by the settingof the alining bar.

7. In a line casting machine having a matrix jaw in normal matrix'linereceiving position, a4

releasing member forY the latch in the path of the elevator to beactuated thereby, and means for setting the releasing member indifferent positions to release the latch in conformity with therespective levels at which the elevator positions thematrix lines.v

8. lIn a line casting machine having a matrix line receiving visevembodying jaws'` oneofwhich is movable from a normal matrix lineVreceiving position toward the other jaw to close against matrix lines,and an elevator for lowering matrix lines into position between the jawsat relatively different alnement levels, a pivoted latch for retainingthe movable jaw'in normal position, a releasing member pivoted to thelatch and projecting into the path of the elevator to be actuatedthereby during its descent, and a fulcrum for the releasing membershlftable to vary the position of the releasing member relatively to thedirection of movement of the elevator to effect actuation thereof inaccordance with the level at which the elevator positions the matrixlines between the jaws. Y

9. In a line casting machine having a matrix line receiving viseembodying jaws, one of which is movable from matrix line receivingposition toward the other jaw, actuating means for the movable jaw toclose said jaw against matrix lines, a line transporter, and settingmeans cooperative with the transporter for causing it to present matrixlines between the vise jaws at dinerent alnement levels, means acting tohold the movable jaw in matrix line receiving position, and meansgoverned by said setting means and operative upon presentation of theline by the line transporter at one or another alnement level to renderineffective the action of said holding means and thereby permit theactuating means to close the movable jaw.

SAMUEL E. SPERRY.

